68 per cent of English want independence from Scotland

Sunday 26 November 2006 11:22 BST

Cut and run: 68 per cent of English voters their own parliament

A majority of voters in both England and Scotland back the break-up of the United Kingdom, a shock poll revealed today. The poll found more 68 per cent of English people want their own parliament, while 59 per cent back Scottish independence.

The poll was seized upon by the Scottish National Party, which stands to gain from the findings while Labour, the Tories and the Liberal Democrats have set their faces against independence. Both Tony Blair and Gordon Brown used appearances at Labour's Scottish conference to defend the union while baiting the SNP.

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The poll, carried out for The Sunday Telegraph, also found more than two-thirds – 68 per cent – of English people want their own parliament, an idea supported by 58 per cent of Scots. A move to complete English independence from the rest of the UK is backed by 48% of voters in England and 45 per cent of their Scottish neighbours.

The findings indicate a hardening of support for Scottish independence as the issue comes into focus ahead of the forthcoming Holyrood elections. Earlier this month a similar ICM poll for The Scotsman found 51 per cent of Scots wanted to break away from England.

The development could have serious electoral implications for Labour as ministers have been using the prospect of Scottish independence to ward off SNP gains in May. The Prime Minister warned on Friday of a "constitutional crisis" if the SNP won control of the Scottish Parliament while the Chancellor today espoused the benefits of the union.

Responding to the poll, Mr Brown maintained his stance. "There is a debate to be had about the future of the United Kingdom," he said. "But I think when you look at the arguments, when you look at the family ties, the economic connections, the shared values, the history of our relationship which has lasted 300 years, people will decide we are stronger together and weaker apart."

But SNP leader Alex Salmond said that Scots were tired of being ruled from London. "The onset of devolution has made people realise that since we have a devolved parliament, it's time to have a real parliament with real powers," he said.

Mr Salmond suggested that Labour wanted to maintain the union out of "naked self interest" - to retain its grip on Westminster. He added that English voters were "quite rightly" resentful of the influence of Scottish MPs in English affairs.

"The people of both countries are now seeing through this unionist charade and supporting independence and self-respect for both countries," Mr Salmond said. "No amount of scare mongering from Brown and Blair will stop the independence tide. A new partnership of equal and independent nations will be much more positive than the present hotchpotch of confusion and resentment."

Tory leader David Cameron backed the union and dismissed the notion of a new English parliament. Mr Cameron told The Sunday Telegraph: "The union between England, Scotland and Wales is good for us all and we are stronger together than we are apart.

"Conservatives want to strengthen the union and that is why we must sort out the issue of the West Lothian Question and why we believe it is time to look at how parliament votes on laws that apply only to England.

"However, the last thing we need is yet another parliament with separate elections and more politicians spending more money."

Sir Menzies Campbell, the Lib Dem leader, said: "Once devolution has bedded down in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland it would be entirely appropriate to consider the role of MPs from all three countries at Westminster.

"We should do this calmly and rationally by means of a constitutional convention with a responsibility to report to Parliament. The last thing we need is knee jerk opportunistic political responses to this issue."